Epigenetic changes and their relationship to somaclonal variation: a need to monitor the micropropagation of plantation crops

Abstract

Chromatin modulation plays important roles in gene expression regulation and genome activities. In plants, epigenetic changes, including variations in histone modification and DNA methylation, are linked to alterations in gene expression. Despite the significance and potential of in vitro cell and tissue culture systems in fundamental research and marketable applications, these systems threaten the genetic and epigenetic networks of intact plant organs and tissues. Cell and tissue culture applications can lead to DNA variations, methylation alterations, transposon activation, and finally, somaclonal variations. In this review, we discuss the status of the current understanding of epigenomic changes that occur under in vitro conditions in plantation crops, including coconut, oil palm, rubber, cotton, coffee and tea. It is hoped that comprehensive knowledge of the molecular basis of these epigenomic variations will help researchers develop strategies to enhance the totipotent and embryogenic capabilities of tissue culture systems for plantation crops.

Advances and Perspectives in Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering of Cannabis

“…Most previous cannabis tissue culture studies have focused on optimizing culture conditions to increase the cannabis micropropagation rate. However, the optimal condition for in vitro propagation may not be optimal to preserve the genetic integrity of the regenerated genotype [ 151 ]. Indeed, in vitro conditions such as medium composition, PGRs, high humidity, the number of subcultures, length of the culture period, temperature, light quality, and light intensity can eventually result in several developmental and physiological aberrations of the micropropagated plants [ 60 ].…”

“…Indeed, in vitro conditions such as medium composition, PGRs, high humidity, the number of subcultures, length of the culture period, temperature, light quality, and light intensity can eventually result in several developmental and physiological aberrations of the micropropagated plants [ 60 ]. The term “somaclonal variation” refers to any phenotypic variation detected among micropropagated plants [ 151 ]. Somaclonal variation is created by either chromosome mosaics and spontaneous mutation or epigenetic regulations such as histone modification (e.g., histone methylation and histone acetylation), DNA methylation, and RNA interference [ 151 , 152 ] ( Figure 4 ).…”

“…The term “somaclonal variation” refers to any phenotypic variation detected among micropropagated plants [ 151 ]. Somaclonal variation is created by either chromosome mosaics and spontaneous mutation or epigenetic regulations such as histone modification (e.g., histone methylation and histone acetylation), DNA methylation, and RNA interference [ 151 , 152 ] ( Figure 4 ).…”

Application of the MSAP Technique to Evaluate Epigenetic Changes in Plant Conservation

“…Since the stressful conditions imposed by tissue culture procedures, and their implications on the epi-genetic stability of cultured material, are well known [ 72 , 73 ], many studies using molecular markers have been carried out to examine the genetic stability of in vitro conserved cultures [ 74 , 75 , 76 ]. However, the number of studies focused on the DNA methylation-related stability of slow-growth cultures is scarce ( Table 1 ).…”

Understanding In Vitro Tissue Culture-Induced Variation Phenomenon in Microspore System

“…However, the TCIV and SV terms are often used mutually [7]. TCIV may be pronounced at the morphological [8], biochemical [9], genetic [10] and epigenetic [11] levels, which do not necessarily overlap [12]. Possibly the most investigated level is based on DNA markers.…”